This film begins with the death of Ludwig van
Beethoven. His secretary and long-suffering
friend, Anton Schindler starts the search for
the person to whom Beethoven has left his goods,
his works and his money. The will states: "To
my immortal beloved".

Schindler therefore goes to find the women
who have been a part of Ludwig's life. On each
meeting, the story of the composer is told.
These encounters reveal a man of extremes: a
musical genius, a rebellious invalid, a melancholy
lover

This film is beautiful, splendid. Gary Oldman's
interpretation is such that the view cannot
imagine that Beethoven could have walked, laughed,
or aged any differently. The women are delicate,
passionate and loving.

The French Poster

Of course, the author has made his own choices:
he shows us his guess about the 'immortal beloved',
and explains in his own way as to why Beethoven
became deaf... Like Karl, Beethoven's nephew,
you will have to discover yourself...

Although without doubt the film 'streatches'
historical reality, the film is never tiring
and the flashbacks are never too heavy.

Ludwig van Beethoven is presented in the light
of men.The music is included non-stop, but what
counts is the presentation of Beethoven himself:
his character and temperament, his violence
and his anger, his genius and his love... That's
what makes me love this film.

Anton Schindler is interpreted emotionally
by a Jeroen Krabbé on good form.

A last point: the music is that of Ludwig
van Beethoven, of course, royally directed by
Sir Georg Solti.

Bernard Rose directed this very
personnal film.

The Immortal Beloved, 'Meine
Unsterbliche Geliebte' in German, came out in
1994. The film exists today on DVD. A beautiful
gift idea...

You can read Beethoven's letter
to his immortal beloved on this site by
clicking here.
You will also find the immortal beloved presented
there...

The soundtrack is available with 2 different CD:

Another
point of view

I have to strongly disagree with you about
the American film "Immortal Beloved,"
which is a travesty and a mockery in the worst
Hollywood tradition. Gary Oldman stomps about,
gesticulating ridiculously, and making faces
obviously borrowed from several not very good
portraits of Beethoven. I couldn't bear to
watch all of it, even on fast forward.